US allows flights between Iraq’s holy city and Iran

On Tuesday, Iraq's transport ministry announced that the US has granted Iraqi Airways, the national carrier, a sanctions waiver permitting it to fly to Iran. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and Transport Minister Wahb al-Hasani successfully secured the exemption for Iraqi Airways to operate flights to the Islamic Republic of Iran, specifically for pilgrims traveling between Iran and Iraq's holy city of Najaf.

The airport was informed of the exemption on the previous day, but there is currently no scheduled flight. The transport ministry expects flights to commence from Najaf in October, pending the fulfillment of organizational requirements. Iraq had been in discussions with the US to seek an exemption after the US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent imposed sanctions on Iranian airlines, effectively shutting them down.

Iraq's decision to allow flights to Iran mainly serves the needs of Iraqi Shia pilgrims, Iranians traveling to sacred sites in Iraq, Iraqi students studying in Iran, and patients seeking medical treatment there. The flights were previously suspended in March due to safety concerns, following the start of the Middle East war.